Roman Catholic Proper 22Common Lectionary Proper 17

When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he grew strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, he and all Israel with him. In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, King Shishak of Egypt came up against Jerusalem with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand cavalry. A countless army came with him from Egypt—Libyans, Sukkiim, and Ethiopians. He took the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem. Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the officers of Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord: You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.” Then the officers of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is in the right.” When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying: “They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. Nevertheless they shall be his servants, so that they may know the difference between serving me and serving the kingdoms of other lands.”

So King Shishak of Egypt came up against Jerusalem; he took away the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house; he took everything. He also took away the shields of gold that Solomon had made; but King Rehoboam made in place of them shields of bronze, and committed them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house. Whenever the king went into the house of the Lord, the guard would come along bearing them, and would then bring them back to the guardroom. Because he humbled himself the wrath of the Lord turned from him, so as not to destroy them completely; moreover, conditions were good in Judah.

How can you say, “I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals”?Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done—a restive young camel interlacing her tracks, a wild ass at home in the wilderness,in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust?None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her.Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst.But you said, “It is hopeless, for I have loved strangers, and after them I will go.”

As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel shall be shamed—they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets,who say to a tree, “You are my father,” and to a stone, “You gave me birth.”For they have turned their backs to me, and not their faces.But in the time of their trouble they say, “Come and save us!”But where are your gods that you made for yourself?Let them come, if they can save you, in your time of trouble;for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.

Why do you complain against me? You have all rebelled against me, says the Lord.

In vain I have struck down your children; they accepted no correction.Your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion.And you, O generation, behold the word of the Lord!Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness?Why then do my people say, “We are free, we will come to you no more”?Can a girl forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire?Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number.

How well you direct your course to seek lovers!So that even to wicked women you have taught your ways.Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor,though you did not catch them breaking in.Yet in spite of all these things you say, “I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me.”Now I am bringing you to judgment for saying, “I have not sinned.”How lightly you gad about, changing your ways!You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.From there also you will come away with your hands on your head;for the Lord has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper through them.

Complementary Psalm 119:65-72

You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.Before I was humbled I went astray, but now I keep your word.You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.The arrogant smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts.Their hearts are fat and gross, but I delight in your law.It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I might learn your statutes.The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Semi-continuous Psalm 58

Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge people fairly?No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth.

The wicked go astray from the womb; they err from their birth, speaking lies.They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear,so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter.

O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!Let them vanish like water that runs away; like grass let them be trodden down and wither.Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime; like the untimely birth that never sees the sun.Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns, whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away!

The righteous will rejoice when they see vengeance done; they will bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.People will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”

New Testament Epistle Lesson: Hebrews 13:7-21

Road to Calvary

Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them. We have an altar from which those who officiate in the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing—for that would be harmful to you.

Pray for us; we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you very soon.

Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.